STB like Sky+
 

A a new member of the forum I'd just like to ask a couple of newbie questions.

1 - Does NTL ever plan to realease a service like Sky+, most of my friends have it and I'm feeling pretty 'left in the stine age' at the moment.

2 - Will the interactive content ever work ? Everytime I watch a program and it says "digital viewers press the red button for more information" I just get a "NTL doesnt have this pal" message.

I'm getting pretty hacked of with the whole setup.

Re: STB like Sky+
 

:welcome: to Cable Forum, a1970man :)

1. Rumours abound that ntl are trialing a video on demand option, whether it will compare with sky+, remains to be seen.

2. Someone else will have to answer this one - I'm still on analogue ;)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

Video on Demand is more than a rumour. The rollout is due to begin early 2005.
Take a look here for more information.

As for interactive servies, whereabouts in the country are you?

Browneggsandham :)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

:dozey: - thanks ;)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

i'd guess they are in London - no interactive there! :shocked:

Re: STB like Sky+
 

ntl plan to bring out a PVR box during 2005, according to their Investor Day. They had a nice timeline with all the thing that were to happen, and PVR appeared around the 2nd half of 2005.

:)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

Thanks for the info.


I'm in Sunderland.

We got NTL 3 years ago, just after electricitcy and runnignwater (before the jokes start.

Re: STB like Sky+
 

a pvr box ? or a perv box

Re: STB like Sky+
 

:D :D :D

If I'm not mistaken, Sunderland is a Langley area. You should have red button content on BBC1+2 so far, I guess ntl are working towards services on other channels aswell.

Browneggsandham :)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

It actually comes under Bromley area :tu:

Re: STB like Sky+
 

Oh ok, sorry - cheers Debsy. Thankfully the situation is the same there. The only difference would be if he was in a London area (although you don't need me to tell you that!!).

Browneggsandham :)

Re: STB like Sky+
 

I do have red button access on BBC1 but it doesnt really compare to Sky on that level.
Also I do find it very slow, and it often locks up the box needing an unplug !
.... and if I have to reset the screen setting to 16:9 one more time, I'll scream....

Re: STB like Sky+
 

I also want a PVR (Sky+/Tivo) type STB. I'd be quite happy to pay for it myself if it worked properly. Twin decoders too would be nice.

The VOD thing I am not sure about. If the VOD offering included all types of programming eg, BBC nature docs, sky one sci-fi stuff, c4 comedy stuff etc. then I'd be reasonably happy. But mostly VOD= movies which to be honest is a bit of a waste of time. I'd rather rent a DVD from the cheap rental shop down the road. At least I then get DD5.1 Audio, something that NTL cannot deliver !

Re: STB like Sky+
 

There is due to be a PVR next year if ntl investors presentation is anything to go by.

It seems quite accurate as it mentions, CR3, Speed Upgrades, MR2, New Interactive Portal, VOD, PVR and Metered Broadband over the next 6 months, give or take a 6 month delay here and there. Presumably a PVR would want to work in co-operation with VOD Creating a home media centre type environment, Where you could stream and record.

They are also trialing Broadband TV which has the potential to make Interactive Television much more entertaining running from the server allowing for Flash, Video and Audio all to be streamed to the STB, blowing away anything Sky could hope to offer.

Re: STB like Sky+
 

somehow i think we have been here before. There are a number of things NTL claim they will do and never get round tothe, I'm still waiting for a STB that can stay on for a week without needing a reboot of loosing the 16:9 setting.

Even if it's a new box I can't imagine NTL getting a PVR right first time. No doubt it will be 1 year of misery and then having to live with something that doesn't work as well as Sky +